Sled



Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

a sled having steerable front runners wherein an arcuate bar isconnected between the front runners and anti-friction means is providedbeneath the top for engagement with the bar so that the front runnerscan be turned easily and will not bind under the weight of a person onthe top.

With the above and other object in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a bobsled constructed accordingtoan embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the bobsled,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure4.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals I6 and II designate generallyrear and front sled members which are secured to a top l2. The rear sledmember I6 is formed of a pair of runners 13 which have inverted V-shapedbars I4 secured thereto between the ends thereof, and the bars [4 aresecured to a transverse bar !5 which is fixed to the top I2.

The forward ends of the rear runners I3 are bent horizontally asindicated at 56 and secured by fastening means H to a cross-piece 18which is fixed beneath the top l2. The front sled H is formed of a pairof runners !9 having inverted V-shaped bars 29 secured thereto and thetwo runners l9 are connected together by means of a connecting bar 2|.Each runner l9 hassecured to the upper forward end thereof ahorizontally disposed bar 22 which is fixed by fastening means 23 to thebar 2| over the top of each V-shaped member 20, and the upper side bars22 extend rearwardly and have fixed thereto or formed integral therewitha transversely arcuate bar 24.

A cross bar 25 is fixed between the side bars 22 and a pivot member 26extends through a forwardly projecting member 21 carried by the top 12and also extends through the cross-bar 25. A steering bar 28 is fixed byfastening means 29 to a pair of spaced apart straps 30 which extendrearwardly from the central portion of the bar 28 and pivotally engagethe pivot member 26 on go upper and lower sides of the top extension Apair of rearwardly divergent bracing members 3! are secured at theirconvergent ends by fastening means 532 to the central portion of thesteering bar 28 and are secured by fastening means 33 to the side bars22. A spacer member 34 is interposed between the lower one of the straps3D and the upper side of the cross bar 25 so that the side bars 22 ofthe front sled II will be disposed in parallel relation with the top I2.

In order to provide a means whereby the front sled I I may freely swingabout the pivot member 26 when a person is mounted on the top 12 I haveprovided a plurality of anti-friction balls 35 which are loosely carriedby socket members 36. The socket members 35 are mounted in recesses 31formed in the lower side of the bar 18 and the several sockets 35, withthe balls 35 so arranged on the same curvature as the curvature of thearcuate bar 25.

A guide member 38 is engaged loosely beneath the arcuate bar 24, beingformed with a rear upwardly offset portion 39 which is secured by afastening member 46 to the cross bar I 8.

With a sled as hereinbefore described, the front sled it may be freelyand easily turned b forward pressure on either end portion ofthesteering bar 28. When a person is mounted on the top i2 theanti-friction balls 35 will engage the arcuate bar 24, therebyeliminating substantially any friction between the bar and the cross barI 8.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claim.

What I claim is:

A bobsled comprising a flat top member, a pair of rear runners fixedbeneath said member, a front sled formed of a pair of connected togetherrunners, means pivotally securing said front sled to said top member, asteering bar fixed relative to said front sled, a longitudinally curvedbar fixed to the upper rear portion of said front sled, anti-frictionmeans beneath said top and engaging the upper side of said curved bar,said antifriction means comprising a plurality of spaced apart balls, asocket for each ball, a cross bar fixed beneath said top member, saidsockets being countersunk in said cross bar, and a guide forming strapfixed relative to said top member and extending beneath said curved bar.

ISIDORE SHAKOWITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 705,943 Miller July 29, 19022,095,951 Andrus Oct. 19, 1937 2,455,318 Shakowitz Nov. 30, 19482,474,373 Seiden June 28, 1949

